How to Maximize Funding for Summer School
Summer school programming is crucial to out-of-school time (OST) learning, providing opportunities for intervention, remediation, credit recovery, and enrichment. However, funding for summer school can be challenging, as many state and federal grants prioritize community-based organizations over direct school district funding. Schools seeking funding must look beyond traditional summer school grants to identify alternative funding sources for expanded learning opportunities.
In this post, we鈥檒l explore key funding strategies, relevant federal and state grants, and practical ways schools can secure financial support for summer programming.
Key Phrases to Identify Funding Opportunities
When searching for summer school funding, recognize that grants may not explicitly state 鈥渟ummer school鈥 in their descriptions. For example, an increasing number of states require schools to provide targeted subject-specific interventions, like听听补苍诲听, to support struggling students. Targeted instruction may require districts to offer supplemental learning opportunities through summer or after-school programming.
Look out for applicable funding categorized under broader education initiatives, such as:
- After-school and expanded learning opportunities
- Credit recovery
- Enrichment opportunities
- Intervention and remediation
- Out-of-school time learning
- Whole child learning and community schools
State Funding Sources to Support Summer Learning
While most state funding for summer learning will come from general formula aid, some states offer competitive or categorical grant opportunities to support these programs. Here are a few examples:
- :听Supplemental formula funding to support low-income students includes summer school and other out-of-school-time programs.
- :听Formula funding for afterschool and summer school enrichment programs for transitional kindergarten through sixth grade. The programs should focus on developing the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs and interests of pupils through hands-on, engaging learning experiences.
- : Under the state鈥檚 Read to Succeed Act, districts must offer SRC for third-grade students significantly behind grade-level reading. Schools receive formula funding based on the number of students identified in the previous school year. Students in other grade levels who are behind grade-level proficiency may also be invited to camps. South Carolina also funds a for community partners.
If you're not in one of the states above, you can look for similar funding sources available in your state.听
Partnering with Community-Based Organizations听
When direct summer school grants are limited, schools should partner with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) nonprofits like Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, and United Way. Many federal and state funding opportunities exist for CBOs to partner with schools to deliver programming. Here are a couple examples:
- : These competitive grants provide support for in-person before-school, after-school, before-and-after-school, and/or summer programming to children and youth in any of grades K-12.
- : Competitive grant program for eligible CBOs to develop or continue high-quality summer and after-school programming for PreK-12 students.
Similar to the funding sources in the previous section, you can look for CBO partnership opportunities in your state.听
Funding Summer Learning: Leveraging Federal Funding Streams听
There are also federal funding streams schools and CBOs can utilize to support summer learning, even if they are not exclusively designated for summer programs:听
ESSA Title I, Part A
Schools identified as needing improvement can use Title I funds to implement summer intervention and remediation efforts for at-risk students.
ESSA Title IV, Part A
Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE): Schools can use SSAE grants to provide summer enrichment programs in STEM, the arts, and literacy.
ESSA Title IV, Part B
21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC): Schools can partner with community organizations to secure 21st CCLC funding for summer school programs to provide mentoring, homework help, and hands-on learning experiences.
ESSA Title V, Part B
Rural Education Program: Rural districts can use this flexible funding source to expand summer learning programs, particularly for students with academic gaps.
Next Steps: Fund Your Summer Programs
Schools can sustain and expand summer learning programs that support student success by leveraging flexible federal funding, building partnerships with community organizations, and exploring alternative funding strategies. Here are some next steps:
- Identify which federal ESSA programs your school is eligible for.
- Research state-specific OST funding. Check out the After-School Alliance鈥檚 resources, including this.
- Partner with community-based organizations to increase funding opportunities.
- Check out Edmentum鈥檚 Funding Toolkit to dive deeper into funding all of your programs.
With the right approach, schools can secure sustainable funding for summer programs, ensuring that students continue learning beyond the school year!听
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